Washington state courts Airbus amid Boeing tension

[unhappycamper]

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/12/17/2952975/washington-state-courts-airbus.html



A Boeing 747 jet is parked in front of a Boeing Co. building Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013, in Seattle. Even as they try desperately to hang on to Boeing, officials in Washington state have been courting the main competitor of the aerospace giant. During the past several months, state officials have traveled to the U.S. headquarters of Airbus SAS in Virginia, moved to connect Airbus with Washington state suppliers, and signed a five-year confidentiality agreement with the company to allow further exploration of business opportunities, according to records obtained by The Associated Press under public disclosure laws.

Washington state courts Airbus amid Boeing tension
By MIKE BAKER
Associated Press
December 17, 2013 Updated 13 hours ago

SEATTLE — Even as they try desperately to hang on to Boeing Co., officials in Washington state have been courting the main competitor of the aerospace giant.

During the past several months, state officials have traveled to the U.S. headquarters of Airbus SAS in Virginia, moved to connect Airbus with Washington state suppliers, and signed a five-year confidentiality agreement with the company to allow further exploration of business opportunities, according to records obtained by The Associated Press under public disclosure laws.

In a confidential memo provided to Gov. Jay Inslee in July, state officials described dozens of potential ways to expand or recruit aerospace businesses in the state. At the top of the memo was Airbus, described as just one of a few major opportunities.

One expert said for years it was generally frowned upon for Washington state officials to jeopardize the relationship with Boeing by seeking ties with Airbus. However, the steps outlined in the memo came amid tension created when Boeing moved its headquarters from Seattle to Chicago and started an assembly line in South Carolina to build its 787 passenger plane.

[Populist_Prole]

1. Well why not? Looks like Boeing wants to leave anyway and move to scab states and offshore

[jtuck004]

2. Hey, Airbus. There's just a crapload of avaiation-related businesses over in Spokane that would LOVE

to have you show up with some work. Got some empty places you could set up shop too.

Spokane. Near nature, near perfect. (That's what it says on the bumper stickers, anyway).